VOA常速英语:Pathways To Prosperity

Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas is a policy-level dialogue that links 16 Western Hemisphere governments and societies that collectively seek to empower small businesses, facilitate trade and regional competitiveness, build a modern and inclusive workforce, and encourage green, sustainable business practices.

Pathways countries include Belize, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and the United States. Trinidad and Tobago was just welcomed as the newest member country.

Brazil has observer status. The Inter-American Development Bank, the Organization of American States, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, are strategic Pathways partners.

Through Pathways, countries share best practices and collaborate to spread the benefits of economic growth more broadly to all of our citizens.

Pathways countries recognize that the promise of economic and social opportunity remains elusive for too many people in this Hemisphere. Pathways seeks to close this gap by encouraging public policies and public-private partnerships aimed at empowering small farmers, small businesses, women, indigenous communities, Afro-descendants, youth, and other vulnerable groups to participate effectively in the global economy.

Through shared leadership, Pathways partner countries are committed to deepening cooperation through the following four pillars: Empowering small businesses by providing access to financial and technical support mechanisms; Facilitating trade by improving regulations and the infrastructure small firms need to trade more competitively; Building a modern workforce by fair labor standards and emphasizing the importance of a viable workforce through education, training, and entrepreneurship; and Promoting sustainable business practices and environmental cooperation by improving environmental practices and protections.

On October 2, 2013, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson participated in the sixth Pathways Ministerial in Panama City, Panama. At the Ministerial meeting, partner countries reaffirmed their commitment to the initiative, reported on the activities from the last year, and approved a plan of action for the next year. Trinidad and Tobago was approved as the Pathways chair for the next year and will host the 2014 Ministerial meeting.

Pathways will continue building on this year’s successes. A Challenge Competition will be launched in spring 2014, which, with the network of stakeholders built by the Clearinghouse, will help identify innovative solutions to shared challenges. Launched in 2012, the Clearinghouse is an interactive space where Pathways countries and stakeholders can carry out strategic planning and outreach, promote policy dialogue, and discover innovative, impactful plans.

By learning from the innovative, sustainable and scalable ideas of Pathways partners, the United States will help generate inclusive economic growth in the region.